By Olumide Goodness Adeyinka
George Bennard, 1913 wrote the song that still stand today as a reference to what should define our attitude in responsibility to our communities and people. The dearest and best of us was slain for the benefit of us all.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain;
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
This song reverberates in the soul of the wise afresh as the temptations of the present age draw our attention to lust and filthy lucre of life and all it can provide. It is a song prepared to always keep us committed to a life of sacrifice in the midst of plenty, a life ready to give at the expense of self, a life devoted to see that life becomes better for everyone. That was the whole essence of the cross, and He that was nailed on it. The dearest and best of mankind made to taste the worst of mankind cruelty even when He could resist! But He agreed to the terms, so as to exchange the shame for a glory that is eternal.
Galatians 6: 14 says “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”.
That old wise song has been changed for immediate gratification that indulges in self-perpetuation, self-glorification and self-evident existentiality. What we have today as oracles of God or as emblems of His reach to humanity are mostly a sham and a distortion of the original. We now have men who have exchanged the souls for the penny of fame and relevance, and all chalartanic escapades are reasoned as entitlements and fringe benefits of the lies. Some have the demeanor of the most humble humanity but behind in their soul is the love for fallacy and perversion of cross. These are the ones that have gotten most people confused, but are really the ones to be scared of the most.
The Old rugged cross is no longer what they alluded to anymore; it is too long and risky to wait to exchange the shame of that cross for a glory to be revealed. So the song has changed to “A new rugged cross” where all they needed and wanted is provided via the cross they preached. They have no one to sacrifice for anymore, the price has been paid once for all, so they claim, so in their casuistry rationalization of the truth they feed on the unsuspecting masses of the poor, the rich rogues, the casual simpletons, and the those who revel in their lies because they derive some benefits too.
We now have majority of Pastors, Preachers and Bishops (or whatever name or title preferred) ravaging our cities and towns with the message of righteousness when they are glaringly unrighteous. They prowl our communities with the message of selflessness when they are outlandishly selfish. They speak of contentment when they are lavish in their pursuit and use of gain. They smoke our corners in different names under the guise of the gospel of redemption all in the soulish desire to win a rat race with competitors. Who is fooling who?
The majority of these people can easily be defined by their ostentatious showiness in public glare. You cannot mistake them for the original except you are a fake yourself or a product of their style, or a protégé of their lust. The worst of them are those who disguise in simple dresses but have every other evident of building an earthly kingdom that will pass away. They speak simple but father hirelings. They appear simple but protect every liar in public domain. They go in and out quietly but with the noise of errors attending them everywhere they go. They speak miracles, invoke God (when He is far away) and prophesy promises of victories and breakthroughs, yet only those who have them are members of the caucus.
How can a ministry built on Jesus Christ build institutions that would be a blessing to communities turn around to charge the poor neighborhoods exorbitant prices for such services? They build schools that it will take stealing from public purses to attend, yet never questioned anyone how they came about the funds. They take tithes and offerings that are bigger than the life of the giver (donor) yet nobody questions anybody. Will it be wrong to ask these hirelings if they really believe truthfully that 10% of their members can afford their schools, hospitals, or eateries etc? Will it be wrong to ask them if the amount of money that accrues to them on daily is commiserate with what God will give as their pay package?
Not even Jesus Christ will allow such retinues of people follow them wherever they go. It is a depiction of a larger than life posture of these scurrilous vainglorious seekers in the name of Pastors. They are super-humans, so their followers depict them, so they respond to such stature too. If they really hate it and frown at it, can’t it be stooped? By their fruits you will know them, not by their message or dressing.
The ominous Lordship of sole ownership overtakes the brotherhood of sanctified gospel delivery, where the word of the G.O or the Senior Pastor is law. Holy Spirit in the lives of elders is shut down at points of decision-making. Gifts in diversities are neglected because ambition has become the driving force behind most of this so-called house of God. Truth must be told; God does not have a house! Not anywhere closes to what you call one in your sanctuary.
Quote me on this anywhere; if Nigeria will be better in the days and years to come, the life of lies and deceit by those who claim to be frontrunners of the Church in Nigeria must stop first. They are the biggest fraud in Nigeria! Their political involvement is much more than PDP, CAN and CPC put together. They get involved in government policies from the scratch to when it is gazetted. Behind the scenes that are made known to most of us, they sponsor candidates for elections and renounce those that can turn around to work against their gaudy interest in the interest of public good. Tell me, if a man does not have a conscience how can he have a heart? Revamp the Church in Nigeria, and the nation will begin to grow stronger by the day.
Back to the song;
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world.
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Ten He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain.
Call me not a destroyer but a builder of the ancient ruins. I do not call for poverty but for a lifestyle of sacrifice and common good of all.
· Mr. Adeyinka can be reached at nigardgroup@yahoo.com
George Bennard, 1913 wrote the song that still stand today as a reference to what should define our attitude in responsibility to our communities and people. The dearest and best of us was slain for the benefit of us all.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain;
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
This song reverberates in the soul of the wise afresh as the temptations of the present age draw our attention to lust and filthy lucre of life and all it can provide. It is a song prepared to always keep us committed to a life of sacrifice in the midst of plenty, a life ready to give at the expense of self, a life devoted to see that life becomes better for everyone. That was the whole essence of the cross, and He that was nailed on it. The dearest and best of mankind made to taste the worst of mankind cruelty even when He could resist! But He agreed to the terms, so as to exchange the shame for a glory that is eternal.
Galatians 6: 14 says “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”.
That old wise song has been changed for immediate gratification that indulges in self-perpetuation, self-glorification and self-evident existentiality. What we have today as oracles of God or as emblems of His reach to humanity are mostly a sham and a distortion of the original. We now have men who have exchanged the souls for the penny of fame and relevance, and all chalartanic escapades are reasoned as entitlements and fringe benefits of the lies. Some have the demeanor of the most humble humanity but behind in their soul is the love for fallacy and perversion of cross. These are the ones that have gotten most people confused, but are really the ones to be scared of the most.
The Old rugged cross is no longer what they alluded to anymore; it is too long and risky to wait to exchange the shame of that cross for a glory to be revealed. So the song has changed to “A new rugged cross” where all they needed and wanted is provided via the cross they preached. They have no one to sacrifice for anymore, the price has been paid once for all, so they claim, so in their casuistry rationalization of the truth they feed on the unsuspecting masses of the poor, the rich rogues, the casual simpletons, and the those who revel in their lies because they derive some benefits too.
We now have majority of Pastors, Preachers and Bishops (or whatever name or title preferred) ravaging our cities and towns with the message of righteousness when they are glaringly unrighteous. They prowl our communities with the message of selflessness when they are outlandishly selfish. They speak of contentment when they are lavish in their pursuit and use of gain. They smoke our corners in different names under the guise of the gospel of redemption all in the soulish desire to win a rat race with competitors. Who is fooling who?
The majority of these people can easily be defined by their ostentatious showiness in public glare. You cannot mistake them for the original except you are a fake yourself or a product of their style, or a protégé of their lust. The worst of them are those who disguise in simple dresses but have every other evident of building an earthly kingdom that will pass away. They speak simple but father hirelings. They appear simple but protect every liar in public domain. They go in and out quietly but with the noise of errors attending them everywhere they go. They speak miracles, invoke God (when He is far away) and prophesy promises of victories and breakthroughs, yet only those who have them are members of the caucus.
How can a ministry built on Jesus Christ build institutions that would be a blessing to communities turn around to charge the poor neighborhoods exorbitant prices for such services? They build schools that it will take stealing from public purses to attend, yet never questioned anyone how they came about the funds. They take tithes and offerings that are bigger than the life of the giver (donor) yet nobody questions anybody. Will it be wrong to ask these hirelings if they really believe truthfully that 10% of their members can afford their schools, hospitals, or eateries etc? Will it be wrong to ask them if the amount of money that accrues to them on daily is commiserate with what God will give as their pay package?
Not even Jesus Christ will allow such retinues of people follow them wherever they go. It is a depiction of a larger than life posture of these scurrilous vainglorious seekers in the name of Pastors. They are super-humans, so their followers depict them, so they respond to such stature too. If they really hate it and frown at it, can’t it be stooped? By their fruits you will know them, not by their message or dressing.
The ominous Lordship of sole ownership overtakes the brotherhood of sanctified gospel delivery, where the word of the G.O or the Senior Pastor is law. Holy Spirit in the lives of elders is shut down at points of decision-making. Gifts in diversities are neglected because ambition has become the driving force behind most of this so-called house of God. Truth must be told; God does not have a house! Not anywhere closes to what you call one in your sanctuary.
Quote me on this anywhere; if Nigeria will be better in the days and years to come, the life of lies and deceit by those who claim to be frontrunners of the Church in Nigeria must stop first. They are the biggest fraud in Nigeria! Their political involvement is much more than PDP, CAN and CPC put together. They get involved in government policies from the scratch to when it is gazetted. Behind the scenes that are made known to most of us, they sponsor candidates for elections and renounce those that can turn around to work against their gaudy interest in the interest of public good. Tell me, if a man does not have a conscience how can he have a heart? Revamp the Church in Nigeria, and the nation will begin to grow stronger by the day.
Back to the song;
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world.
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Ten He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain.
Call me not a destroyer but a builder of the ancient ruins. I do not call for poverty but for a lifestyle of sacrifice and common good of all.
· Mr. Adeyinka can be reached at nigardgroup@yahoo.com